Delegation of the European Union to Japan

09/20/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/20/2024 04:01

EU Statement on nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine at the 68th Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference, 20 September 2024

President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina[1]and Georgia, the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as and San Marino, align themselves with this statement.

The EU reiterates its strongest condemnation of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in violation of the UN Charter and the IAEA Statute.

By first attacking and looting Ukraine's Chornobyl site, then invading and seizing Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), and continuously shelling Ukraine's energy grid, Russia is putting nuclear safety and security in great danger, with potentially severe consequences for Ukraine and all of us.

As reported by the Director General, the situation remains precarious and fragile, in particular at the ZNPP. We are deeply concerned that his seven indispensable pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict continue to be compromised, either partially or fully, and that the IAEA is not able to fully assess whether the five principles established by the Director General are being observed at all times. We continue to stress that the seven pillars and the five principles must be respected and that the IAEA must be granted unrestricted and timely access to all requested locations, information and personnel at the ZNPP. All units at the ZNPP must remain in cold shutdown, given the multiple safety concerns related to off-site power, cooling water, staffing, maintenance, and physical protection.

We express our gratitude to the IAEA Director General and the IAEA experts for their determination and courage.The continued IAEA presence at the ZNPP and Ukraine's other nuclear power plants is of critical importance for providing independent information to the international community, for monitoring and mitigating nuclear safety and security risks, and for implementing safeguards in accordance with Ukraine's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol.

Russia's massive air strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure are aggravating the already dire situation. As set out in the seven indispensable pillars, there must be secure off-site power supply from the grid for all nuclear sites in order to ensure their safety and security. Recent attacks against Ukraine's energy grid have directly affected also other nuclear power plants in Ukraine, and these plants are in full operation, with grave risks. In this context, we welcome the expansion of IAEA monitoring activities at critical substations. We stand with Ukraine and remain committed to providing further significant assistance to Ukraine, bilaterally and through the IAEA.

The EU welcomes the IAEA's clear stance, as stated in the IAEA Director General's reports that the Agency complies with UN General Assembly Resolution (11/4) of 12 October 2022 reaffirming the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. This is not a separate New York issue, as claimed by Russia. None of the risks reported by the Director General existed before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and its illegal seizure of Ukraine's ZNPP. Russia must urgently withdraw from the entire territory of Ukraine. The ZNPP must be returned to the full control of the competent, sovereign Ukrainian authorities to ensure its safe and secure operation and for the Agency to continue safeguards implementation, in accordance with Ukraine's obligations as a non-nuclear weapon State.

With these comments, the EU calls on all delegations to support the work of the IAEA in Ukraine and to vote in favour of the draft Resolution in front of us.

Thank you, President.

[1]North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.